The Chicago Cubs won 92 games last season and earned the top National League Wild Card spot. They defeated the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round but fell just short in the division series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Unfortunately, they were unable to keep Kyle Tucker in free agency, and while they did sign Alex Bregman, Tucker will be tough for them to replace. They will need certain players to step up and take on larger roles in 2026.
One key player that will be worth watching is infielder Matt Shaw, who showed some promise last season. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report predicts that Shaw will be the biggest X-factor for the North Siders in 2026.
Matt Shaw Named Chicago Cubs X-Factor
“Shaw almost exclusively played third base while placing ninth in the NL ROY vote last season, save for six innings at second base,” Miller wrote. “But that’s Alex Bregman’s spot now. Thus, within the first week of spring training, Shaw had already made starts at second base, at third base and in right field as the Cubs prepare him for at least one season as a super-utilityman.”
With Tucker gone, right field is open for Shaw to potentially take the starting job in 2026. But so is second base. If Shaw can adjust well to those positions, he could be a big key to the Cubs success this season.
He does have a little bit of power in his bat, having hit 13 home runs last season with 44 RBI. The 24-year-old will need to prove he can hit for a higher average and post better numbers in the on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS categories.
He slashed just .226/.295/.394 with a .690 OPS and a 98 OPS+. If he can improve on that, the Cubs could be in a very good spot in terms of trying to win the NL Central for the first time since 2020.
But if he settles into a new position, the Cubs will have a lot more clarity on where certain players will play and what their roles will be. Shaw does have experience at second base and right field, and often times, a super utility player can make a huge difference on a team, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with more opportunities.
He obviously isn’t going to spell Bregman at third base though, so he will have to get used to new roles after patrolling the position last year.
Cubs Have Roles To Figure Out
The Cubs have some questions to answer, and one of the biggest centers around Shaw and what role he will play. If he adjusts well to new positions and improves at the plate, the Cubs could potentially become the team to beat in the NL Central.
They need somebody to step up after the loss of Tucker, and Shaw could be the perfect player to fill that role and become the player the Cubs are hoping for him to be. If that happens, the Cubs could be a very dangerous team in 2026.
Chicago Cubs 24-Year-Old Infielder Listed As Main Key For 2026